Morocco, U.S. to set up regular political consultation mechanism to foster bilateral ties- El Otmani

Morocco and the U.S. agreed to set up a regular political consultation mechanism to further reinforce their cooperation relations, Foreign Minister Saad Dine El Otmani said on Sunday in Rabat.

“Morocco and the U.S. are bound by strong longstanding relations that keep developing year after year,” said the Moroccan official at a joint press conference with visiting U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

He said Clinton’s visit was an opportunity for the two countries to agree about setting up a mechanism for regular political consultation with a view to further promoting their bilateral cooperation.

“We also agreed to foster our economic cooperation, raise U.S. investments in the Kingdom and strengthen relations between the two countries businessmen,” added the Minister, who noted that the US and Morocco have signed several economic cooperation agreements including a Free Trade Agreement, which came into effect in 2006.

El Otmani also pointed that Morocco and the US are concerned about preserving stability in the region.